Dahlia plant named Bilipi

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named Bilipi, characterized by its compact growth habit; small leaves and inflorescences that are proportional to the overall plant size; ease of propagation; and light purple ray florets with dark yellow disc florets.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahliaplant, botanically known as Dahlia hybrida, and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name Bilipi.

The new Dahlia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Quedlinburg, Germany. The objective of the breedingprogram was to create new Dahlia cultivars having a compact growth habitsuitable for 7 to 9-cm container production, small inflorescences,desirable inforescence colors, and inflorescences and foliage with goodsubstance.

The new Dahlia originated from a cross made by the inventor of theinventor's proprietary Dahlia seedling selections. The cultivar Bilipiwas discovered and selected by the inventor as a flowering plant withinthe progeny of this cross in a controlled environment in Quedlinburg,Gemany.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia by terminal cuttings taken atQuedlinburg, Germany, has shown that the unique features of this newDahlia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of Bilipi. These characteristics incombination distinguish Bilipi as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Compact growth habit, suitable for 7 to 9-cm contaniers. Plants donot require growth retardants.

2. Small leaves and inflorescences that are proportional to the overallplant size.

3. Excellent rooting and easy to propagate.

4. Light purple ray florets with dark yellow disc florets.

The new Dahlia has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without,however, any variance in genotype.

Compared to the female parent, plants of the new Dahlia have smallerinflorescences. Plants of the new Dahlia differ from the male parent inray floret color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The first photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typicalflowering plant of Bilipi.

The upper photograph on the second sheet of photographs comprises a topperspective view of mature (left) and immature (right) leaves. The upper(top) and under (bottom) sides of the immature leaves are shown.

The lower photograph comprises a close-up view of inflorescences ofBilipi. Floret and foliage colors may appear different than the actualcolors due to light reflectance.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in Quedlinburg, Germany, duringthe winter season under commercial practice in a glass-coveredgreenhouse with average night temperatures of 15C., average daytemperatures of 20C., and light levels of 2,500 lux.

p0 Botanical classification: Dahlia hybrida cultivar Bilipi.

Commercial classification: Pot Dahlia.

Parentage:

Male, or pollen, parent.--Proprietary Dahlia seedling selection.

Female, or seed, parent.--Proprietary Dahlia seedling selection.

Propagation:

Type.--Terminal tip cuttings.

Time to rooting.--15 to 20 days with soil temperatures of 20C.

Rooting habit.--Propagates easily, roots fibrous and well-branched.

Plant description:

Appearance.--Perennial herbaceous potted plant. Bushy with stemsupright. Freely branching, plants do not require pinching. Compactgrowth habit and moderate growth rate. Suitable for 7 to 9-cmcontainers. From a rooted cutting, six weeks are required to produce aflowering pot plant.

Plant height.--About 16 cm.

Stem description.--Internode length: About 2 to 2.5 cm. Diameter: About3 mm. Color: 144B.

Foliage description.--Arrangement: Young foliage: Single. Fullyexpanded: Compound, trifoliate. Leaf size: Young foliage: Length: About3 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Mature foliage: Length: About 6 cm. Width:About 3.5 cm. Leaf/leaflet shape: Ovate. Leaf/leaflet apex: Acuminate.Leaf/leaflet base: Attenuate. Leaf/leaflet margin: Slightly serrated.Leaf/leaflet texture: Smooth, glabrous. Petiole length: Young foliage:About 1.5 cm. Fully expanded: About 3 cm. Color: Young foliage uppersurface: 137B. Young foliage under surface: 138B/138C. Fully expandedfoliage upper surface: 137B. Fully expanded foliage under surface:138B/138C. Petiole: 144B.

Flowering description:

Appearance.--Daisy inflorescence form. Inflorescences flat and borne onterminals above foliage, arising from leaf axils. Disc and ray floretsarranged acropetally on a capitulum.

Flowering response.--Under natural conditions, plants flower continuousin the summer/autunm in the Northern Hemisphere. At other times of theyear, inflorescence initiation and development can be induced under longday/short night conditions (less than 11 hours of darkness).Inflorescences persistent.

Inflorescence size.--Diameter: 3 to 4 cm. Depth (height): About 1.5 cm.

Flower bud.--Shape: Ovoid. Size: Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 7mm. Color: 144B to 151C.

Ray florets.--Shape: Oblanceolate. Size: Length: About 15 mm. Width: 5to 7 mm. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture: Satiny, smooth andglabrous. Number of ray florets per inflorescence: 30 to 35, about threerows of florets. Color: Upper surface: 75D at base; darker, 80C/78C atcenter and distal end. Immature ray florets are initially yellow at basebefore developing light purple color. Under surface: 75D at base;darker, 80C/78C at center and distal end.

Disc florets.--Number of disc florets per inflorescence: About 50.Color: 14B.

Peduncle.--Aspect: Erect and strong. Length: 3.5 to 5 cm. Diameter:About 1 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144B.

Sepals.--Quantity per inflorescence: 5 to 6. Shape: Oblanceolate. Tip:Acute. Margin: Entire. Color: 137B.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Anther size: About 2 mm. Anther color:14B. Pollen: 14B. Gynoecium: Style length: About 2 mm. Stigma color: 5D.

Disease resistance: No known Dahlia diseases observed to date on plantsgrown under commercial greenhouse conditions.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant namedBilipi, as illustrated and described.